Just a month ago, a new nonprofit agency announced its intentions to raise money to send all Cleveland County High School graduates to college on its dime in the coming years.

That agency now hopes it can start the scholarship program for graduates who will walk across the stage this week.

The organizer for the Cleveland County Promise, county resident and former NFL football player Willie Green, said this week that interest in the program has developed quickly since plans were published in The Star in early May.

Green said county residents are already donating money through the nonprofit's website and more have called wanting more information.

He said more than 50 students in the Class of 2013, which graduates Saturday, have already applied for financial aid from Cleveland County Promise, which will pay for education for county graduates attending four-year colleges and universities.

“We’ve had a tremendous response from the community both by phone calls, by emails, and really just people stopping me on the streets and stopping members of my board on the streets just wanting to get some additional information,” Green said. “I get an average of about five to 10 calls a day.”

Bruce Boyles, superintendent of Cleveland County Schools, said the school system has also received calls about the program.

"We're hoping that they'll be successful with it," said Boyles. "It's a good program."

How much is needed to start the program soon?

Green said program leaders have until the end of August to raise the necessary funds for 2013 high school graduates to attend college free this fall.

Donations totaling $2 million are needed to make that happen. The $2 million figure is more than enough to cover the cost of every student who is attending college this fall, said Green. He also said the figure estimates that about 75 percent of Cleveland County students who attend college will attend a four-year university and about 25 percent will attend a community college.

Costs for college tuition were calculated based on tuition rates at UNC Chapel Hill for the 2011-2012 academic year. That semester rate was $7,200.

The program would only cover tuition and mandatory fees for students.

“I really hope that we’re able to raise the necessary funds to kick this thing off for the 2013 class,” he said.

Green said donations are already showing people believe in the program.

“What’s amazing is the money that has come in, it’s come through our PayPal account from average community families,” he said. “We’re seeing people sending in 10, 15 dollars."

Who will provide the big financial support?

Green is also trying to lure support from donors from outside the county.

A group including Green and board members Willie B. McIntosh and the Rev. Dante Murphy will visit Washington, D.C., next week to meet with potential donors, including a confirmed meeting with Congressman Patrick McHenry. Green said he hopes McHenry can help the program raise money.

The CCP board, which is meeting this week, also hopes to create partnerships with local businesses to raise money.

“I am really encouraging the local businesses to really step up and make a contribution to the program,” he said. “It will change the entire landscape of our community as we know it. Those businesses and the people in the community will no doubt see a tremendous return on their investment if they support this program.”

'If we can't fund everybody, we won't fund anybody'

Green said he recently met a Shelby parent who said he made too much money to qualify for other scholarships or Pell grants, but not enough to pay for his daughter to go to college.

“This is the first time that anyone from his family has ever had an opportunity to go to college,” Green said.

If the fundraising goal is not met by August, the program will wait until the Class of 2014 to launch.

“If we do not raise the necessary goal, if we can’t fund everybody, we won’t fund anybody,” he said.

But with the community, local businesses and larger donors helping out, Green believes the goal can be met.

“The criteria for sending you to college should not be whether or not you can afford it,” he said. “It should be whether you are accepted into that university.”

Follow graduations next week

Cleveland County high school graduations are set for Saturday, June 8. Here are the details, how you can follow The Star's graduation coverage and how you can submit your own photos.

Graduation ceremonies

* Kings Mountain High (260 graduates) -- 9 a.m. -- Gamble Stadium at the high school